An interchange is defined as what?

An interchange is defined as the connection of a freeway to a road or another freeway by ramps. This design allows vehicles to transition between different roadways without requiring them to stop, facilitating the efficient movement of traffic. Interchanges are critical for maintaining higher speeds on freeways while allowing access to other roads, which is particularly important in busy areas where traffic flow needs to be uninterrupted.

Ramps at interchanges serve as the point of entry and exit, ensuring that vehicles can merge on and off the freeway smoothly. This design is essential for safety and efficiency, as it reduces the potential for collisions that might occur if vehicles had to stop at intersections. Other choices do not accurately capture the definition of an interchange; one refers to a primary intersection, another describes a one-way street, and the last involves roundabouts, none of which encompass the specific function of interchanges in freeway systems.